Method and apparatus for coating a medical device
First Claim
1. A method of coating a medical device, the method comprising:
- optically scanning the medical device and obtaining a plurality of views of the medical device;
merging the plurality of views to generate a digital representation of the medical device;
processing the generated representation to generate a topology of the medical device;
determining a first plurality of reference locations on the generated topology wherein each location of the first plurality of locations corresponds to a location on the medical device at which at least one drop of coating material is to be placed;
generating a second plurality of locations as a function of the first plurality of reference locations, wherein each location of the second plurality of locations defines a physical point on the medical device; and
depositing at least one drop of coating material on at least one location in the second plurality of locations with an applicator, wherein the movement of the applicator relative to the medical device does not substantially follow the topology of the medical device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device, for use in an operating theater just prior to implantation, for selectively applying a medical coating to an implantable medical device. Disclosed is a device for use with a stent deployed on a catheter balloon configured to apply a medical coating of a desired thickness to the surface of the stent only. A drop-on-demand inkjet printing system in association with an optical scanning device is described. The device is further configured to apply a plurality of layered coats, each layered coat being of a different coating material, and if appropriate, different thickness and to coat a portion of the medical device as a function of its geometric configuration. The coating is applied by moving an applicator over the device in a path that is independent of the deposited coating pattern.
64 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method of coating a medical device, the method comprising:
-
optically scanning the medical device and obtaining a plurality of views of the medical device; merging the plurality of views to generate a digital representation of the medical device; processing the generated representation to generate a topology of the medical device; determining a first plurality of reference locations on the generated topology wherein each location of the first plurality of locations corresponds to a location on the medical device at which at least one drop of coating material is to be placed; generating a second plurality of locations as a function of the first plurality of reference locations, wherein each location of the second plurality of locations defines a physical point on the medical device; and depositing at least one drop of coating material on at least one location in the second plurality of locations with an applicator, wherein the movement of the applicator relative to the medical device does not substantially follow the topology of the medical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of loading a stent with a medicinal compound, the stent comprising a plurality of struts, the struts being in a geometric pattern, the method comprising:
-
scanning the stent to identify one or more edges of the struts; determining a first set of coordinates for the indentified one or more edges of the struts; generating a second set of coordinates as a function of the first set of coordinates; and ejecting the medicinal compound at each coordinate in the second set of coordinates with an applicator, wherein the movement of the applicator relative to the stent does not substantially follow the geometric pattern of the struts. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of loading a medicinal compound on a stent comprising a plurality of struts, the struts being in a geometric pattern, the method comprising:
-
illuminating the stent with light from a light source; capturing an image of the illuminated stent; processing the captured image and generating a first set of coordinates corresponding to edges of the stent struts; processing the first set of coordinates to generate at least one bounded area coordinate in an area bounded by edges of the stent struts; and directing at least one drop of the medicinal compound toward the at least one bounded area coordinate; applying the drop with an applicator, wherein the movement of the applicator relative to the stent does not substantially follow the geometric pattern of the struts. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification